Last week, photographs surfaced of a Balenciaga marketing campaign that confirmed kids holding teddy bears in leather-based gear resembling that utilized in BDSM, an acronym for bondage, self-discipline, dominance, submission and sadomasochism. One picture confirmed a toddler holding a bear that was wearing wrist and ankle restraints with a lock and chain round its neck.
Kardashian mentioned she had waited to talk out “not because I haven’t been disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted an opportunity to speak to their team to understand for myself how this could have happened.”
“I appreciate Balenciaga’s removal of the campaigns and apology. In speaking with them, I believe they understand the seriousness of the issue and will take the necessary measures for this to never happen again,” she mentioned.
Amid the criticism, Balenciaga mentioned in a put up to its Instagram story final week that “we sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused.”
“Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign,” it mentioned.
As of Sunday night, Balenciaga’s Instagram posts had been hidden or deleted. (The remark sections of Instagram posts are sometimes commandeered as a public discussion board for expressing criticism of manufacturers or public figures.)
Kardashian, who has labored as an ambassador for Balenciaga, mentioned she was “currently re-evaluating my relationship with the brand, basing it off their willingness to accept accountability for something that should have never happened to begin with — & the actions I am expecting to see them take to protect children.”
Balenciaga and its father or mother firm, Kering, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark concerning Kardashian’s statements.